Greg Hinz On Politics

Kirk to vote against Hagel nomination

It appears that Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., will vote against the nomination of former Sen. Chuck Hagel to be U.S. defense secretary.

After a somewhat rocky confirmation hearing Thursday, Mr. Kirk today released a statement saying that, while he "appreciate(s) and respect(s)" Mr. Hagel's service as a senator from Nebraska and a decorated military veteran, Mr. Kirk "cannot support" the nomination.

“During yesterday's confirmation hearing, Sen. Hagel instinctively called the Iranian government both elected and legitimate. He initially offered strong support for containment of Iran, rather than President Obama's stated policy of preventing an Iranian nuclear breakout," Mr. Kirk said. "He could not clearly explain his past opposition to unilateral sanctions against Iran — opposition as recent as 2008. And at no time did he state his position on whether the European Union should formally designate Iran's terror proxy, Hezbollah, as a terrorist organization — a critical step to cut off the flow of funds to a group responsible for the murders of some 280 American citizens."

Despite such statements by Republicans against Mr. Hagel — a Republican who endorsed President Barack Obama in each of the past two elections — there is no sign the White House is backing off. Democrats have a five-seat majority in the Senate and can confirm him if they stick together — assuming Republicans don't filibuster.

Mr. Kirk is a Navy Reserve intelligence officer and is considered a bit of a foreign-policy hawk.